Thanks for the photos... I, too, stayed at the Plaza Hotel when in Saigon in 1963 - US Army MAAG-Vietnam. It would be interesting to see what the Plaza looks like now, if in fact, it's still standing....

Dale

16-Jan-2009 16:52

I was a Navy advisor in 70-71, billited in the Plaza Hotel, a block or two West of Ben Thanh Market on Tran Hung Dao Street. Would like to see what that hotel structure looks like present day.

Dave

17-Dec-2008 21:31

Need to contact "Gene". I was stationed in Saigon, USMACVHQ, 70-71. Say you have pictures? I have pictures available on CD. contact drwhite48@netzero.com

war harris

18-Oct-2008 09:59

I was there in 69-70. I would occassionally go to Cholon.There was a club called Kim-Kim's. Above the the door was a big sign that read "Please GI do not smoke koon sa in here". Enetering into the dingy little club, you ran nose first into a blue- purple haze so thick you could not see the band from the bar. Two deep breaths and the war faded far away. They had the best rock band in the 'nam called the CDC. Don't know what it stood for and after a couple of deep breaths didn't care, and, after two breaths, they were the best band in Vietnam. I don't remember much else about it, not after two breaths at any rate.
Kook sa was readily available. The locals would buy Vicroy cigarettes, pull out the tabacco and reload with Cambodian Red. Looking at a pack you could not tell that they had been tamper.
Sold for 450P a pack or about $3.50 at any street vendor in Saigon.
Malboro and Winston sold for almost that much with the koon sa.
Cholon in your pictures looks like the Cholon in my pictures: dirty and run down poor section of town. When I was there most hotels, bars and clubs where Americans went were covered with chain link fence to protect against grenades.

Great presentation of your visit to Saigon and well documented of the diverse activities in this city. I noticed you where there in 2004 and would like to share my visit at the end of 2007 for you to compare what had changed in the last three years. Many of the place you visited in Saigon are very similar to my visit. Very nice to see from you perspective and beautiful pictures. www.pbase.com/longbachnguyen/vietnam

Dale Martin

15-Oct-2007 20:54

I enjoyed your gallery very much. I was a naval advisor in 1970-71 and worked out of the VN Navy HQ on the river near the south end of Hai Ba Trung Street. I'm looking for a photo of what was then the Plaza Hotel, the BEQ where I was billited. It was on Tran Hung Dao St., a block or two west of the Ben Thanh Market on the South side of the street. Any info or photos would be appreciated.

Brian, I was stationed in Saigon in 1970-1971 with the US Army, I have a lots of old 35mm slides I took of Saigon and Cholon. Would you be in interested in seeing them?

huy

02-Sep-2004 01:21

Hi brian, thanks for sharing your nice pictures. would you mind posting more pictures of the military hardwares ?

Guest

27-May-2004 02:02

Hi Brian, I just spent the entire hour looking thru all these images, and I thought I was there again, thanks for sharing, they are incredible. Too bad it's half way around the world, otherwise I will go there every night for dinner and to sit on the side walk watching people and cars passing by, what a joy. I was born in ChoLon (Binh Tay Market), and I miss it alot!

Take care, cheers!
KT

TNT999

21-Apr-2004 14:22

Hey, thanks for sharing these pictures! Very good photography skills you have! :)
I was in Vietnam in March and couldn't take as many pictures as I'd like...